IAWA Champions: Reception Reflections

Thanks to you, our IAWA family, I Am Here, our 5th Annual Reception and Art Auction, I Am Here, on December 5,2020 was our most successful fundraiser ever! In the midst of a pandemic, our virtual celebration and art auction raised $15,000 more than last year! All proceeds will go towards launching our new leadership development program, Morafe, enabling high-school youth in our flagship program in South Africa to convene monthly with youth in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. 

The 2020 reception was named I Am Here in recognition of the traumatic impact forced isolation, systematic racism and inequality, femicide, and other societal ills has had on us individually and communally. Yet, this last year has also shown us the beauty of resistance. We feel this fierce determination in the eyes of the activists to the smiles and laughter of our children. The fight for peace is not only a battle on the streets but an internal battle of the mind and soul.

Joy is an act of resistance! We gather to celebrate all that is, and all that can be. It is our enduring hope that creates a new tomorrow, because We Are Here! We are divinely guided. We are purpose driven. We are unstoppable.

The reception, held in partnership with the DC Embassy of South Africa, featured a Mental Wellbeing Discussion with Charlamagne tha God (The Breakfast Club), Remarks from Biso Gxashe Tutu (Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation) and Master of Ceremony RuQuan Brown (Love1). Music was provided by DJ Holla. IAWA Ambassadors Rorisang, Tsholofelo, Betty and Milisi also provided thoughtful remarks for the reception. The Digital Silent Auction included 40 unique auctions, including paintings from Patrick Motumbo (Toronto Raptors), P Vilakati, and Aven Amali (Rosebank Art Market). Thank you to all of these amazing, talented supporters for their valuable contributions that made our 2020 reception a huge success!

We’d also like to acknowledge and thank all our special supporters. Thank you to our 2020 hosts, Carmen L. Bonilla, Mervin Bourne, Casey Oche Bridgeford, Aaron Brock, Sue Cook, Gilbertson Cuffy, Eshanda Fennell, Howard R. Jean, Kamau McAbee, and Calvin Robinson. Thank you to our Sponsors of Love, Layla E. Neilsen & Co and Shindig. Thank you to our Sponsors of Determination, Newwave Foundation, SmilesShield, and Originals by Africa’s Best. Thank you to our Sponsors of Hope, DJ Holla, A Moment with Pix, Communicate with Integrity, Smart 3D Home Tours, Untouchable Shots Photography, and HLX Magazine. Thank you to our Partners, C5 Collective and Friends of South Africa. Lastly, a huge thank you to our Planning Committee, Kaitlin Arnold, Ashley Behnke, Dyan Bullock, Yohana Del-Rosario, Sarah Humphrey, TaKyshia Frazier, Lori Green, Chris Kent, Lori Levin, Jeanette Mahaye, Linda Masina, Kyumon Murrell, Mary Parker, Chelsea Ritchie, Meisha Robinso, and DaMesha Scott.